Pitching game target with indicator



' w. A. KENNON PITCHING GAME TARGET wrm INDICATOR A ril 5, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 30, 1958 nit d tes Pat PITCHING GAME TARGET WITH INDICATOR Woodrow A. Kennon, Dyersburg, Tenn.

Application October 30, 1958, Serial No. 770,646

2 Claims. (Cl. 273--102.1)

This invention relates to a pitching game toy. It has for its main objects to provide such a toy that will be highly satisfactory for the purpose intended, simple in structure, cheap to manufacture, easy to use'and keep in working condition, and very durable.

A further object is to provide such a toy that may be used indoors or outdoors.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the drawings and specification.

By referring generally to the drawings, a part of this application, it will be observed that Fig. l is a front elevational view of the toy made according to this invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of part of the toy; and Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the toy.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings in detail it will be seen that the toy comprises two similar fabric net baskets 1 supported on rings 2 having integral extensions 3 attached to brackets 4 having rollers 5 mounted on a frame 6. A cord 7 is attached to basket brackets at 8 and extends around pulleys 9. An indicating hand 10 is attached on the cord exactly in the midlle of its length and points at zero when the baskets are at equal distances from the frame base 11. A second cord 12 extends downward from where it is attached to the brackets, and has on each of its lower end portions a plurality of weights 13 that must have their faces convexed to allow space for portions of the cord between them when they are in con tact with each other as shown in Fig. 1. A brace 14 is attached to each end portion of the top of the frame.

Any suitable weights for pitching are used to play the game of pitching, the only requirement being that a pitching weight must be as heavy as one weight or a multiple of them attached to the cord lower ends. In practice it has been found that beans in a bag make a very satisfactory pitching weight as such will not result in damage if a player misses a basket when pitching the weight. The highest score obtainable is 6 resulting from the equal of six weights (not shown) in one basket to pull it down with the weights on the lower portion of its cord in contact with each other while the weights on the other basket have been lifted apart as plainly shown in Fig. 1.

The weights on the cord end are preferably made of metal.

From the foregoing it will appear that the game of pitching is played as follows: The numerals on the right from 0 to 6 are for the right basket; the numerals on the left from 0 to 6 are for the left basket. Each scoring unit is 1 and each weight weighs the same and is the weight of a scoring unit (say, one ounce). The objects to be pitched at one pitching turn will be 6 scoring units, but there are twelve pitching objects available to choose from-for the first pitcher of each round: six ls, three 2s, two 3s, and one 6 (a total of 24 units). After the first pitcher pitches his 6 units, the second pitcher has the remaining objects (a total of 18 units) to choose his 6 units from. On the next round the last pitcher pitches first and the first last. The player on the left will pitch at the basket on the left, and the player on the rightthe basket on the right. The number 1 object weighs 1 weight unit, number 2, 2 weight units, etc. The first 5- player may choose whichever numbered pitching object(s) he wishes, up to a total of 6 units, at one pitching turn. If he pitches a number 6 and it goes in his basket then the other player must choose from the remaining pitching objects the combination of 6 units he considers to his best advantage to counter-balance his opponents score; if he pitches two 3s and one goes in his basket and the other misses, then his opponent scores 3 for that round. If a player pitches at his own basket and misses and it goes in his opponents basket, the score goes to his opponent, but not to exceed a total score of 6 at one round. If the first player pitches 6 in his basket then the second player pitches a #2 and misses and it goes in his opponents basket the opponents score would still read 6, then the second player pitches another #2 and it goes in his basket, the opponents score still reads 6, then he pitches another #2 and it goes in his basket, then his opponents score reads 4. In other words the score is always just what the score scale reads.

The player must decide which number object(s) [Weight units(s)] to pitch that he thinks would be of the most advantage to him and which objects left would be of the most disadvantage to his opponent. The second pitcher has the chance of cancelling his opponents score or surpassing him. The game is played in an even number of rounds so that each player will have the same number of first and second turn pitches. For that reason I suggest that instead of having the game end when a certain total score is reached, that it end when a certain number of rounls are played, say, six rounds. Various kinds of rules may be made covering use of the toy as a game and it is not intended to restrict its use as stated.

The various parts of the toy may be made of any ma terial suitable for the purpose; also the parts may be made in different sizes and capacities, depending on how and p where to be used.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I do not wish to limit same to the exact and precise details of structure, but reserve the right to make all modifications and changes so long as they remain within the scope of the invention and the following claims.

Having described my invention I claim:

1. A pitching game toy of the class described comprising a frame shaped similar to an inverted letter U with its lower ends attached to a base and having braces extending from the base to the top of the frame, two similar fabric net baskets, each basket mounted on a round metal ring, each ring having integral extensions, a bracket assembly of four rollers mounted on each vertical portion of the frame, each bracket having a basket attached thereto by the ring extensions of the basket; a pulley mounted in each upper corner of the frame, a cord extending from the bottom end of one vertical portion of the frame upward and over said pulleys and then downward to the bottom end of the other vertical portion of the frame, said cord being attached to the roller brackets at points to sustain the said baskets at equal distances from the top of the frame; a plurality of similar weights attached on each lower end portion of the cord with space between the weights on the cord; a hand as a pointer attached at the exact center of the length of the cord as an indicator of the game; the top of the frame having numerals 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 thereon for use with said pointer.

2. A pitching game toy of the class described comprising a frame, said frame supported on a base, a piece of cord or small diameter rope, two pulleys attached to Patented Apr. 5,, 1 60,

the top portion of the frame, said cord mounted around said pulleys with its ends extending downward, two brackets with rollers mounted on said frame, a fabric net basket on a metal ring supported on each of said roller brackets,. the. ends of said cord extending below the baskets, a plu- 5 rality of concave shaped metal weights attached on the lower portion of each cord end; an indicating hand attached to the middle of the length of saidtcord; the top portion of said frame having thereon numerals 6 5 4' 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 adapted for use in combination with 10 said hand for showing the score of the game.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain 1911 

